PARENT SESSION
MP1 - Sustainable Development: Science, Adaptive Management & Ecosystem Restoration
Chair: Luoma, Sam¹, ¹ USGS, Menlo Park, CA
2:10 PM to 5:30 PM - Monday, 18 November 2002
Room Ballroom G-I

(251) Measuring the Success of Sustainable Development Implementation .

Dorward-King, Elaine^*,1, ¹ Rio Tinto plc, LONDON, United Kingdom

ABSTRACT- Ten of the world's largest mining companies initiated the Global Mining Initiative (GMI) in 2000. One goal of the GMI was to examine through a multi-sectoral, stakeholder-driven, analytical process how the metals and minerals industry could best develop the sector's contribution to sustainable development. While being a driving force behind the GMI, Rio Tinto has simultaneously been engaged in understanding what sustainable development can mean on the ground at its businesses and operations and implementing practical programs relevant to specific businesses and operations. Results will be presented from the first two years of on-going internal work, drawing on data from several of the 60 operations around the world. Included in the discussion will be the key elements of successful efforts, challenges and impediments to complete integration into business planning and decision-making, and selected indicators and metrics of performance. The importance of early and clear engagement of civil society in terms of community, government and non-governmental organizations will be illustrated, as will the need for life cycle thinking with regard to both natural resource management and product stewardship. The integral role of science and technology in achieving the goals of sustainable development, including efficiently using resources and minimizing adverse effects on ecosystems, will be illustrated throughout.

Key words: sustainable, management, indicators, performance